>People who proselytize programming languages are missing the big picture. Its always about making computers do stuff and programming language of choice is just an implementation detail.
What if you're missing the big picture?
Many developers don't care about the stuff we make computers do, but are passionate of the tools and implementation details of doing them.
If I work on some accounting enterprise software I could not care less for accounting and the associated business goals. But I could very much like working with this over that tool and finding nice ways to solve various problems towards the (still boring to me) end goal.
Unlike we're working on our personal/hobby/passion projects, the "stuff we make computers do" are usually irrelevant to us -- business owners care about them. But, as programmers, we presumably do care about programming and programming tools and concepts.
>Many developers don't care about the stuff we make computers do, but are passionate of the tools and implementation details of doing them
This is a positive characteristic of a hacker. Very much desirable.
Do note that I was specifically talking about proselytizing in a negative sense. One can love their tools and still not participate in dick measuring contest of which tool is better and actively belittle someone else who also loves their own tools.
There can be a constructive discussion about programming languages (it does happen among the PL theorists and hackers), but in general PL theorists are a rare sight.
In a general forum, sadly, many developers do judge a person with what programming language they use, disregarding what they have created. This goes against the foundation of hacker ethics.
What if you're missing the big picture?
Many developers don't care about the stuff we make computers do, but are passionate of the tools and implementation details of doing them.
If I work on some accounting enterprise software I could not care less for accounting and the associated business goals. But I could very much like working with this over that tool and finding nice ways to solve various problems towards the (still boring to me) end goal.
Unlike we're working on our personal/hobby/passion projects, the "stuff we make computers do" are usually irrelevant to us -- business owners care about them. But, as programmers, we presumably do care about programming and programming tools and concepts.